The Idiot Box: TV Season 2011/2012

[Sletchman]

Hell, ending seasons on cliffhangers should be a shooting offence.

I could not agree more.  Especially these days, where even excellent ratings and reception aren't a guarantee of a return.

[Mister Andersen]

Hell, ending seasons on cliffhangers should be a shooting offence.

I could not agree more.  Especially these days, where even excellent ratings and reception aren't a guarantee of a return.

Precisely.

On a dramatic level, the resolution to a single episode isn't going to pull me back next season if everything up to it has been drek. Conversely, if everything up to that episode has been great, then I'm going to come back for more regardless. An end of season cliffhanger isn't going to do jack shit for your ratings or your chances of avoiding cancellation because the decision is made long before the resolution is written and all you get are even angrier viewers.

Seriously, a three year hypersleep journey that may not work is cliffhanger enough, you don't need to artificially emperil an increasingly smaller number of characters until one is left to face death all alone

[Aldus Vertten]

For me, it was a great ending.

Yeah, it was a cliffhanger, but it also seemed to me like full circle. The fact that Eli stayed awake was a great way of showing that the character had evolved a lot since the first episode. And somehow to me it kind of was poetic, a beautiful ending. One of the things they made clear in the series is that it wasnt about going back home anymore. The journey goes on, even if us, or Eli, are not there to see it.

[Crafty_Pat]

For me, it was a great ending.

Yeah, it was a cliffhanger, but it also seemed to me like full circle. The fact that Eli stayed awake was a great way of showing that the character had evolved a lot since the first episode. And somehow to me it kind of was poetic, a beautiful ending. One of the things they made clear in the series is that it wasnt about going back home anymore. The journey goes on, even if us, or Eli, are not there to see it.

Well said, Aldus. I remain convinced that SGU is the very best of that franchise, hands down. I loves me some SG-1, I really do, but SGU hit levels of awesome SG-1 never even conceived.

[Mister Andersen]

Well said, Aldus. I remain convinced that SGU is the very best of that franchise, hands down. I loves me some SG-1, I really do, but SGU hit levels of awesome SG-1 never even conceived.

This.

[ThunderMonkey]

Well said, Aldus. I remain convinced that SGU is the very best of that franchise, hands down. I loves me some SG-1, I really do, but SGU hit levels of awesome SG-1 never even conceived.

I agree. However (I guess it's just a matter of perception) I didn't view the final episode as a cliffhanger. A cliffhanger assumes that there's going to be another episode. Thus, it ended the best way they could end it: Leave the audience wanting more. If you do that, it doesn't necessarily make it a cliffhanger. The "Lost" finale pulled that off quite well.

[Crafty_Pat]

I agree. However (I guess it's just a matter of perception) I didn't view the final episode as a cliffhanger. A cliffhanger assumes that there's going to be another episode. Thus, it ended the best way they could end it: Leave the audience wanting more. If you do that, it doesn't necessarily make it a cliffhanger. The "Lost" finale pulled that off quite well.

Lost comparison aside, I agree. It wasn't an end to that story, no, but it's not like the previous Stargate series didn't do the same. It's clearly a franchise intent that no story ever truly ends, and that you're always left seeing a little something just beyond the horizon - even if you'll never reasonably get there.

Also consider that other space-faring series that did definitively end were... Shall we say, not as good? I thin that's diplomatic enough.

(Voyager, I'm looking at you - something I wished I'd never have to say again in my natural lifetime.)

[Mister Andersen]

(click to show/hide)

OMG, I’m seriously impressed that Icon & Rocket get a cameo.

Alas…

Worst. Joker. EVAH.

[Desertpuma]

Official as of yesterday Charlie's Angels bit the dust. I tried watching and got through 2.5 episodes before taking it off my Hulu set up. ... The big problem I found was that Fiona on Burn Notice is better than all the Angels combined. She's a better shooter, driver, thief, roleplayer, intimidator, and at improvisation. That's not counting her explosives work or her unarmed or melee combat skills either.

[ThunderMonkey]

Official as of yesterday Charlie's Angels bit the dust. I tried watching and got through 2.5 episodes before taking it off my Hulu set up. ... The big problem I found was that Fiona on Burn Notice is better than all the Angels combined. She's a better shooter, driver, thief, roleplayer, intimidator, and at improvisation. That's not counting her explosives work or her unarmed or melee combat skills either.

You're almost preaching to the choir on that one. You stuck with it longer than I did.

[Desertpuma]

Well, I wanted to like. I did. ... Halfway through episode 3, a missing journalist on a boat, Minka Kelly had this look on her face of "just going through motions, hope no one notices" and when the most talented cast member on the show that you can see has that look, you know it is done. Victor Garber who was the voice of Charlie did his work from the study in his house most likely and is far outshines everyone on that show in talent.

[agent oni]

Official as of yesterday Charlie's Angels bit the dust. I tried watching and got through 2.5 episodes before taking it off my Hulu set up. ... The big problem I found was that Fiona on Burn Notice is better than all the Angels combined. She's a better shooter, driver, thief, roleplayer, intimidator, and at improvisation. That's not counting her explosives work or her unarmed or melee combat skills either.

You're almost preaching to the choir on that one. You stuck with it longer than I did.

I'm glad it got cut.  The script was terrible.  The only thing I liked was their version of the Bosley character.  Also, it seems that the show didn't want to get those girls dirty.  There was one scene where one of the girls was captured and tortured.  She came out of it looking still pristine.  There was very little evidence that she was even really tortured.

Person of Interest hasn't really interested me so far.  It may get better but the show is just boring.  I think the big part of that is the lead.  I don't know.  That show just falls flat for me.

I caught the season premier of The Walking Dead yesterday and loved it.  I loved it enough that I plan to go back and watch the 1st season that I missed.

Of the new shows that have come out this year, I was pleasantly surprised with Hart of Dixi.  I really enjoyed the characters and the story.  It kind of reminded me of Everwood (not sure of the title.  It was about a doctor who lost his wife and they move to some Western State.  He has a piano prodigy son and a daughter) mostly because of the similar warm feeling it gave me.

[Desertpuma]

Even Bosley was weaksauce compared to Jesse or even Barry the Hacker on Burn Notice. It is sad that a recurring guest on another show was better than the male lead. I do give them credit for at least making him competent though.

[Mister Andersen]

Person of Interest hasn't really interested me so far.  It may get better but the show is just boring.  I think the big part of that is the lead.  I don't know.  That show just falls flat for me.

I'll admit the action lead, who was one of the things that failed about the The Prisoner remake, isn't quite jelling fir me, but it's more the concept and the cheif baddy from Lost -- he is just so damn watchable! -- as the co-lead that are really holding me.

[ThunderMonkey]

Person of Interest hasn't really interested me so far.  It may get better but the show is just boring.  I think the big part of that is the lead.  I don't know.  That show just falls flat for me.

I'll admit the action lead, who was one of the things that failed about the The Prisoner remake, isn't quite jelling fir me, but it's more the concept and the cheif baddy from Lost -- he is just so damn watchable! -- as the co-lead that are really holding me.

I concur.